UK Army's New RCH 155 Howitzer: What Makes It Superior to the K9, Caesar, and Archer?

In January 2020, the UK released a list of requirements for the Mobile Fires Platform program. They wanted a light, fast, and powerful wheeled howitzer. Furthermore, this weapon had to have a long range and be highly mobile on the battlefield.

Initially, the UK wanted a range of up to 80 km, but this was deemed excessive as other missiles could already fill that role. The focus shifted to mobility, automation, and battlefield survivability. Four main candidates competed: the RCH 155 (Germany), the K9 Thunder (South Korea), the CAESAR (France), and the Archer (Sweden).

The UK conducted rigorous trials for all four candidates. They wanted a weapon that was not only powerful but also suited to their strategic needs. The RCH 155 excelled in several areas:

Firing on the Move
Mobility and Protection
High Automation
Industrial Partnerships

The RCH 155 emerged as the frontrunner due to its alignment with the UK's future force structure and NATO commitments. In April 2024, the UK announced RCH 155 as the winner after reaching an agreement with Germany.